Business Regulation

The Better Business Regulation (BBR) project aimed to support businesses primarily by making business regulations easier to access and understand.

• Who was Involved in Better Business Regulation?

• Making Compliance Easy

• Primary Authority

• Competition and Markets Authority

Regulatory services are those public sector organisations that carry out inspections, visits and investigations to check that businesses are compliant with the law. They also provide advice and guidance to businesses on how to achieve compliance.

If you need help with regulations affecting your business and not sure where to start?

Call the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub on 0333 006 9178

Who's Involved in Better Business Regulation?

Better Business Regulation is a partnership between businesses, business support organisations and local regulatory services.

Organisations that make up the partnership include:

• The Food Standards Agency providing advice, research and enforcement of the food and drink industry.

• Local Authorities have an advisory, inspection and enforcement role within food and health and safety.

• Health & Safety Executive is the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness, they also provide a list of local offices.
• The Environment Agency (& WRAP) support and enforce Environmental Protection and Waste Matters.
• Licensing, a number of business activities need a licence, from waste carriers to massage and special treatment premises, as well as aspects of business activity such as playing music or use of CCTV.
  
  It is possible to find out whether you need a license, using License Finder. Whilst some licences have online applications, you will be advised to contact the local authority in some instances.
• Fire Safety, businesses are required to appoint a responsible person and to carry out regular Fire Risk Assessments in the workplace.
  
  The local fire and rescue authority provide advice for businesses on this level and appropriateness of fire protection measures as well as taking enforcement action to make sure firms meet their statutory and legal responsibilities.

More details are available here: Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service or Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service

• Trading Standards aim to improve life for local people by supporting business, helping consumers and tackling unfair and unsafe trading practices. A list of the relevant Trading Standards websites is presented below:

  • Derby City Council Trading Standards

  • Derbyshire County Council Trading Standards
    Derbyshire Trading Standards can provide up to two hours free advice per year to any Derbyshire based business that is referred via the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub. Request business advice on trading standards law here.

• Nottingham City Council Trading Standards

• Nottinghamshire County Council Trading Standards
  Find free Trading Standards Business Advice from Nottinghamshire County Council here.

• Taxation - H M Revenue and Customs have a supportive, education and enforcing role in a wide range of tax related issues for employers and businesses as well as individuals.

• Empoyment - ACAS provide advice, training and mediation in employment law matters as well as publications and standard documents.

• The Gambling Commission carry out reviews, provide advice and guidance to license holders to ensure compliance with the Gambling Act 2005, regulations (statutory instruments) made under the Gambling Act 2005, the Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) and any technical standards that apply to operating licences.

• Business Continuity - For an individual business, a Business Continuity plan is an essential part of any organisation’s response. Setting out how the business will operate following an incident and how it expects to return to ‘business as usual’ in the quickest possible time.
  
  Local councils have a Preparing for Emergencies plan covering major incidents like flooding, flu pandemics and transport accidents.
  
  Trade associations support, advise and promote companies within their industry and it is possible to search the Trade Association Forum website for relevant trade associations.

There are a number of other business associations that offer support and information.

• BCC - British Chambers of Commerce represents 53 accredited Chambers and businesses of all sizes employing over 5 million employees.

• FSB - Federation of Small Businesses promotes and protects the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.

• CBI – Confederation of British Industry represents companies of every size, including many in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 350.

• IOD – Institute of Directors.

• EMC – East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire) provides business support and training for companies.

Making Compliance Easy

Getting it right first time will help your business become successful and grow, protect your customers and your business reputation and enhance Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s reputation as good places to do business. A positive relationship between businesses and the services that regulate them is critical if you're going to succeed in reducing both the real and perceived regulatory burdens faced by business. The Better Business Regulatory Partnership meets quarterly to coordinate the work and approach of the services across the East Midlands Combined County Authority LEP area.

• Regulatory services have started to share data which will avoid businesses having to duplicate the information required.
• Regulatory officers have undergone training including spending time in a business to gain an appreciation of what it is like to run a business and the pressures faced by small businesses.
• Pilot studies within certain sectors are reducing the number of visits by regulators.
• Piloting free health and safety reviews for businesses.
• Remember that your local regulators are well placed to give advice and guidance. Use them! A list of organisations involved in Better Business Regulation is displayed at the top of this page.
  Alternatively, call 0333 006 9178 for advice and support.

Primary Authority

Primary Authority is a statutory scheme established by the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008 (the RES Act). It allows an eligible business to form a legally recognised partnership with a single local authority in relation to regulatory compliance. This local authority is then known as its “primary authority” and is therefore in a position to provide advice other local regulators must respect.

A business that chooses to participate in the Primary Authority is demonstrating a commitment to working in partnership with regulators, and a desire to improve its experience of local regulation. The scheme enables primary authorities to develop positive relationships with such businesses, pathing ways for supporting businesses that are committed to compliance.

Competition and Markets Authority

The Competition and Markets Authority is the government organisation which has responsibility for promoting competition in the UK.

Sometimes they take businesses to task for breaking competition law, but another very important part of their role is to help businesses understand what anti-competitive behaviours are so that they can:

• Spot anti-competitive practices amongst other businesses, such as suppliers colluding to drive up prices, or competitors price-fixing or market-sharing in order to gain an unfair advantage.

• Report anti-competitive practices to the CMA.

• Stay on the right side of the law themselves.

Find further guidance & advice here